Formulation of a film-coated dutasteride tablet bioequivalent to a soft gelatin capsule(Avodart~?): Effect of γ-cyclodextrin and solubilizers

The aim of this study was to optimize a tablet formulation of dutasteride that is bioequivalent to a commercially available soft gelatin capsule(Avodart~?). The effect of cyclodextrin on enhancing the aqueous solubility of dutasteride was investigated, after which the formulation was further optimized with solubilizing polymer and surfactant. Among the cyclodextrins tested, the highest solubility was observed when dutasteride was complexed with γ-cyclodextrin. Moreover, the addition of polyvinylpyrrolidone and Gelucire/TPGS further enhanced the solubility of dutasteride. Differential scanning calorimetry(DSC) and powder X-ray diffraction(pX RD) studies demonstrated that dutasteride existed in the amorphous form in the complex. Optimized dutasteride complexes were selected after a pharmacokinetic study in rats, and film-coated tablets were prepared by the direct compression method. In vitro dissolution profiles for the tablets of dutasteride complexes were similar to those of the reference. Moreover, pharmacokinetic parameters including the C max and AUC values after oral administration in beagle dogs were not significantly different from those of the reference with a relative bioavailability of 92.4%. These results suggest the feasibility of developing a tablet formulation of dutasteride using cyclodextrin complex in addition to a solubilizing polymer and surfactant.

Design and evaluation of nicorandil extended-release tablet

The aim of this study was to design and evaluate extended-release formulations of a model drug,nicorandil,in order to achieve the desired steady-state plasma concentration of drug in vivo.Simulation was employed to estimate optimum dissolution and absorption rate of nicorandil.The dissolution test was employed using pH 1.2,4.0,6.8 buffer solution,or water,to measure the in vitro release behaviors of nicorandil formulations.A single dose(15 mg)of each formulation was orally administered to four beagle dogs under fasted conditions,and the pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated.The in vitro/in vivo relationship of the extended-release formulation was confirmed using in vitro dissolution profiles and plasma concentrations of drug in beagle dogs.Nicorandil was released completely within 30 min from the immediate-release tablets and released for 24 h from the extended-release tablets.The nicorandil plasma concentration could be modified by adjusting the drug release rate from the extended-release formulation.The release rate of nicorandil was the rate-limiting step in the overall absorption of drug from the extendedrelease formulations.These results highlight the potential of a nicorandil extended-release formulation in the treatment of angina pectoris.

Surface-modified liposomes for syndecan 2-targeted delivery of edelfosine

Here, we report that the modification of liposome surfaces with AG73 peptides enhances delivery of the lipophilic anticancer drug, edelfosine, to tumor cells overexpressing the cellsurface receptor, syndecan 2. To test the effect of liposomal surface density of AG73 peptides on cellular uptake, we synthesized AG73 peptide-conjugated polyethylene glycol(MW 2000)lipid and incorporated it into fluorescence dye-labeled anionic liposomes with different ligand densities(1, 2, or 5 mol% of total lipids). Cellular uptake of AG73-peptide–modified liposomes gradually increased in proportion to the surface ligand density. The percentages of cells positive for AG73-modified, fluorescent-dye–labeled liposomes were 19.8 ± 2.0%, 23.1 ± 5.0%,and 99.2 ± 1.0%, for ligand mole percentages of 1, 2, and 5, respectively. The cell-targeting ability of AG73-modified liposomes was not significantly altered by the serum content of culture media. In keeping with the observed enhanced cellular uptake, AG73-peptide–modified liposomes entrapping edelfosine exhibited greater cancer cell-killing effects compared with unmodified liposomes. Following intravenous administration into tumor-bearing mice,AG73-peptide–modified liposomes showed 2.1-fold greater accumulation in tumors than unmodified liposomes. These results support the feasibility of using syndecan 2–directed liposomes for delivery of edelfosine.

Nanoparticle-Mediated Lipid Metabolic Reprogramming of T Cells in Tumor Microenvironments for Immunometabolic Therapy

We report the activation of anticancer effector functions of T cells through nanoparticle-induced lipid metabolic reprogramming.Fenofibrate was encapsulated in amphiphilic polygamma glutamic acid-based nanoparticles(F/ANs),and the surfaces of F/ANs were modified with an anti-CD3e f(ab′)2 fragment,yielding aCD3/F/ANs.An in vitro study reveals enhanced delivery of aCD3/F/ANs to T cells compared with plain F/ANs.aCD3/F/AN-treated T cells exhibited clear mitochondrial cristae,a higher membrane potential,and a greater mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate under glucose-deficient conditions compared with T cells treated with other nanoparticle preparations.Peroxisome proliferatoractivated receptor-αand downstream fatty acid metabolismrelated genes are expressed to a greater extent in aCD3/F/AN-treated T cells.Activation of fatty acid metabolism by aCD3/F/ANs supports the proliferation of T cells in a glucose-deficient environment mimicking the tumor microenvironment.Real-time video recordings show that aCD3/F/AN-treated T cells exerted an effector killing effect against B16F10 melanoma cells.In vivo administration of aCD3/F/ANs can increase infiltration of T cells into tumor tissues.The treatment of tumor-bearing mice with aCD3/F/ANs enhances production of various cytokines in tumor tissues and prevented tumor growth.Our findings suggest the potential of nanotechnology-enabled reprogramming of lipid metabolism in T cells as a new modality of immunometabolic therapy.

Sprinkle formulations——A review of commercially available products

Currently, sixty-five original sprinkle drug products are available in various dosage forms including tablets, powders, granules, immediate-release capsules, extended-release capsules, delayed-release capsules, and multiparticulate drug delivery systems. By sprinkling on soft food vehicles, these products provide dosing flexibility and convenience of administration, which potentially improve the compliance of patients with dysphagia.Due to these advantages, the growth of sprinkle products picked up since the 1990s, and several regulatory issues regarding this dosage form have been raised and documented.In this article, the types of sprinkle formulations were discussed by dividing them into seven categories, and the commercial products were summarized in terms of the drug substance, pharmaceutical excipients, storage conditions and administration methods. In addition, several US Food and Drug Administration guidelines related to the regulatory issues of sprinkle formulations were reviewed, which led to the conclusion that the future development of this promising dosage form demands integrated guidance for industry rather than scattered information in various documents.

Magnesium-reinforced Electrospun Synthetic-polymer Nanofibers Designed for Promoting Tissue Growth

The creation of 3D nanofibers offering desirable functions for bone regeneration is developed due to the latest improvisations to the electrospinning technique.Synthetic polymers are among the best choices for medical usage due to their lower costs,high tensile properties,and ease of spinnability compared to natural polymers.In this communication,we report a series of interventions to polymers modified with Mg-based fillers for ideal tissue engineering applications.The literature survey indicated that these filler materials(e.g.,nano-sized particles)enhanced biocompatibility,antibacterial activity,tensile strength,and anti-corrosive properties.This review discusses electrospinning parameters,properties,and applications of the poly(ε-caprolactone),poly(lactic acid),poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid-co-3-hydroxy valeric acid),polyurethane,and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone)nanofibers when modified with Mg-based fillers.This report encourages researchers to use synthetic polymers with Mg as fillers and validate them for tissue engineering applications.

Nanotechnology and vaccine development

Despite the progress of conventional vaccines,improvements are clearly required due to concerns about the weak immunogenicity of these vaccines,intrinsic instability in vivo,toxicity,and the need for multiple administrations.To overcome such problems,nanotechnology platforms have recently been incorporated into vaccine development.Nanocarrier-based delivery systems offer an opportunity to enhance the humoral and cellular immune responses.This advantage is attributable to the nanoscale particle size,which facilitates uptake by phagocytic cells,the gut-associated lymphoid tissue,and the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue,leading to efficient antigen recognition and presentation.Modifying the surfaces of nanocarriers with a variety of targeting moieties permits the delivery of antigens to specific cell surface receptors,thereby stimulating specific and selective immune responses.In this review,we introduce recent advances in nanocarrierbased vaccine delivery systems,with a focus on the types of carriers,including liposomes,emulsions,polymer-based particles,and carbon-based nanomaterials.We describe the remaining challenges and possible breakthroughs,including the development of needlefree nanotechnologies and a fundamental understanding of the in vivo behavior and stability of the nanocarriers in nanotechnology-based delivery systems.

Lipid nanoparticle-mediated CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing and metabolic engineering for anticancer immunotherapy

Metabolic engineering of the tumor microenvironment has emerged as a new strategy.Lactate dehydrogenase A(LDHA)is a prominent target for metabolic engineering.Here,we designed a cationic lipid nanoparticle formulation for LDHA gene editing.The plasmid DNA delivery efficiency of our lipid nanoparticle formulations was screened by testing the fluorescence of lipid nanoparticles complexed to plasmid DNA encoding green fluorescence protein(GFP).The delivery efficiency was affected by the ratios of three components:a cationic lipid,cholesterol or its derivative,and a fusogenic lipid.The lipid nanoparticle designated formulation F3 was complexed to plasmid DNA co-encoding CRISPR-associated protein 9 and LDHA-specific sgRNA,yielding the lipoplex,pCas9-sgLDHA/F3.The lipoplex including GFP-encoding plasmid DNA provided gene editing in HeLa-GFP cells.Treatment of B16F10 tumor cells with pCas9-sgLDHA/F3 yielded editing of the LDHA gene and increased the pH of the culture medium.pCas9-sgLDHA/F3 treatment activated the interferon-gamma and granzyme production of T cells in culture.In vivo,combining pCas9-sgLDHA/F3 with immune checkpoint-inhibiting anti-PD-L1 antibody provided a synergistic antitumor effect and prolonged the survival of tumor model mice.This study suggests that combining metabolic engineering of the tumor microenvironment with immune checkpoint inhibition could be a valuable antitumor strategy.

Safety and photochemotherapeutic application of poly(γ-glutamic acid)-based biopolymeric nanoparticle

The safety of nanomaterials, a crucial consideration for clinical translation, is enhanced by using building blocks that are biologically nontoxic. Here, we used poly(γ-glutamic acid)(γ-PGA) and dopamine as building blocks of polymeric nanomaterials for carrying hydrophobic anticancer drugs. The introduction of phenylalanine onto γ-PGA enabled the resulting amphiphilic derivative of γ-PGA acid to self-assemble in the presence of the anticancer drug paclitaxel(PTX) to form PTX-encapsulated micelles.The surfaces of PTX-loaded micelles were then coated with polymerized dopamine(PDA). The PDAcoated, amphiphilic γ-PGA-based micelles(AM) carrying PTX(PDA/AM/P) exerted near-infraredresponsive photothermal effects. Near-infrared irradiation of cancer cells treated with PDA/AM/P nanoparticles produced a greater anticancer effect than that observed in other treatment groups, indicating a synergistic effect. Intravenous administration of PDA/AM/P completely ablated tumors and prevented their recurrence. Notably, the in vivo safety profile of PDA/AM/P nanoparticles allowed PTX to be delivered at a 3.6-fold higher dose than was possible with PTX solubilized in surfactant, and circumvented the side effects of the surfactant. These results support the multifunctional potential of PDA/AM for the delivery of various hydrophobic drugs and imaging dyes for safe translation of nanomaterials into the clinic.

Tetramic acid-motif natural products from a marine fungus Tolypocladium cylindrosporum FB06 and their anti-Parkinson activities

Tetramic acid-containing natural products are attracting significantly increasing attention from biologists and chemists due to their intriguing structures and biological activities.In the present study,two new tetramic acid alkaloids tolypyridone I(1)and tolypyridone J(2),together with five known ones(3–7),were isolated from cultures of a marine fungus Tolypocladium cylindrosporum FB06 isolate obtained from a marine sediment in Beaufort sea of North Alaska.Their structures were elucidated using 1D,2D NMR,and HRESIMS.Their configurations were established on the basis of 1H coupling constants,ROESY correlations and DP4 calculations.Compound 2 was isolated as mixtures of rotational isomers with C-3 to C-7 axis between 4-hydroxy-2-pyridone and 1-ethyl-3,5-dimethylcyclohexane,hindering rotation.In our unbiased screening to discover neuroprotective compounds in an in vitro Parkinson’s disease(PD)model,SH-SY5Y dopaminergic cells were treated with isolated compounds followed by treatment with 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium(MPP^(+)),a parkinsonian neurotoxin.Among tested compounds,F-14329(7)significantly protected cells from MPP^(+)-induced cytotoxicity.MPP^(+)-mediated cell death is known to be related to the regulation of Bcl-2 family proteins,specifically the down-regulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and the up-regulation of pro-apoptotic Bax levels.Treatment with 2 mmol/L of MPP^(+)for 24 h significantly reduced Bcl-2 levels compared to control treated with vehicle.However,treatment with F-14329(7)attenuated such reduction.This study demonstrates that tetramic acid-motif compounds could be potential lead compounds for treating PD.

Cell membrane-derived vesicles for delivery of therapeutic agents

Cell membranes have recently emerged as a new source of materials for molecular delivery systems.Cell membranes have been extruded or sonicated to make nanoscale vesicles.Unlike synthetic lipid or polymeric nanoparticles,cell membrane-derived vesicles have a unique multicomponent feature,comprising lipids,proteins,and carbohydrates.Because cell membrane-derived vesicles contain the intrinsic functionalities and signaling networks of their parent cells,they can overcome various obstacles encountered in vivo.Moreover,the different natural combinations of membranes from various cell sources expand the range of cell membrane-derived vesicles,creating an entirely new category of drug-delivery systems.Cell membrane-derived vesicles can carry therapeutic agents within their interior or can coat the surfaces of drug-loaded core nanoparticles.Cell membranes typically come from single cell sources,including red blood cells,platelets,immune cells,stem cells,and cancer cells.However,recent studies have reported hybrid sources from two different types of cells.This review will summarize approaches for manufacturing cell membrane-derived vesicles and treatment applications of various types of cell membrane-derived drug-delivery systems,and discuss challenges and future directions.

Molecular engineering of antibodies for site-specific conjugation to lipid polydopamine hybrid nanoparticles

Conjugation of antibodies to nanoparticles allows specific cancer targeting,but conventional conjugation methods generate heterogeneous conjugations that cannot guarantee the optimal orientation and functionality of the conjugated antibody.Here,a molecular engineering technique was used for sitespecific conjugation of antibodies to nanoparticles.We designed an anti-claudin 3(CLDN3)antibody containing a single cysteine residue,h4 G3 cys,then linked it to the maleimide group of lipid polydopamine hybrid nanoparticles(LPNs).Because of their negatively charged lipid coating,LPNs showed high colloidal stability and provided a functional surface for site-specific conjugation of h4 G3 cys.The activity of h4 G3 cys was tested by measuring the binding of h4 G3 cys-conjugated LPNs(C-LPNs)to CLDN3-positive tumor cells and assessing its subsequent photothermal effects.C-LPNsspecifically recognized CLDN3-overexpressing T47 D breast cancer cells but not CLDN3-negative Hs578 T breast cancer cells.High binding of C-LPNs to CLDN3-overexpressing T47 D cells resulted in significantly higher temperature generation upon NIR irradiation and potent anticancer photothermal efficacy.Consistent with this,intravenous injection of C-LPNsin a T47 D xenograft mouse model followed by NIR irradiation caused remarkable tumor ablation compared with other treatments through high temperature increases.Our results establish an accurate antibody-linking method and demonstrate the possibility of developing therapeutics using antibody-guided nanoparticles.

Nose-to-brain delivery of macromolecules mediated by cell-penetrating peptides

Brain delivery of macromolecular therapeutics (e.g., proteins) remains an unsolved problem because of the formidable blood brain bather (BBB). Although a direct pathway of nose-to-brain transfer provides an answer to circumventing the BBB and has already been intensively investigated for brain delivery of small drugs, new challenges arise for intranasal delivery of proteins because of their larger size and hydrophilicity. h order to overcome the bathers and take advantage of available pathways (e.g., epithelial tight junctions, uptake by olfactory neurons, transport into brain tissues, and intra-brain diffusion), a low molecular weight protamine (LMWP) cell-penetrating peptide was utilized to facilitate nose-to-brain transport. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPP) have been widely used to mediate macromolecular delivery through many kinds of biobarriers. Our results show that conjugates of LMWP proteinsare able to effectively penetrate into the brain after intranasal administration. The CPP-based intranasal method highlights a promising solution for protein therapy of brain diseases. (C) 2016 Chinese Pharmaceutical Association and Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V.

Higher plasma bilirubin predicts veno-occlusive disease in early childhood undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with cyclosporine

AIM: To analyze the association between plasma bilirubin levels and veno-occlusive disease(VOD) in non-adult patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(HSCT) during cyclosporine therapy.METHODS: A total of 123 patients taking cyclosporinewere evaluated using an electronic medical system at the Seoul National University Children's Hospital from the years 2004 through 2011. Patients were grouped by age and analyzed for incidence and type of adverse drug reactions(ADRs) including VOD. RESULTS: The HSCT patients were divided into three age groups: G#1 ≥ 18; 9 ≤ G#2 ≤ 17; and G#3 ≤ 8 years of age). The majority of transplant donor types were cord blood transplantations. Most prevalent ADRs represented acute graft-vs-host disease(a GVHD) and VOD. Although the incidences of a GVHD did not vary among the groups, the higher frequency ratios of VOD in G#3 suggested that an age of 8 or younger is a risk factor for developing VOD in HSCT patients. After cyclosporine therapy, the trough plasma concentrations of cyclosporine were lower in G#3 than in G#1, indicative of its increased clearance. Moreover, in G#3 only, a maximal total bilirubin level(BILmax) of ≥ 1.4 mg/d L correlated with VOD incidence after cyclosporine therapy. CONCLUSION: HSCT patients 8 years of age or younger are more at risk for developing VOD, diagnosed as hyperbilirubinemia, tender hepatomegaly, and ascites/weight gain after cyclosporine therapy, which may be represented by a criterion of plasma BILmax being ≥ 1.4 mg/d L, suggestive of more sensitive VOD indication in this age group.

Chemokine-mimetic plerixafor derivative for tumorspecific delivery of nanomaterials

Here, we report that chemokine-mimetic plerixafor derivatives could govern tumor-specific delivery and functional effects of nanomaterials. Reduced graphene oxide （rGO） nanosheets were used as a model functional nanomaterial, and plerixafor-conjugated lipid （PL/rGO） or a benzylcyclam derivative of plerixafor- conjugated lipid （BPL/rGO） was physically adsorbed onto the surface of rGO. The cellular uptake of surface-modified rGO was dependent on overexpression of the CXCR4 chemokine receptor on cancer cells. In KB cells, the binding affinity of BPL/rGO for CXCR4 was 6.8-fold greater than that of PL/rGO. Notably, cellular uptake patterns correlated with in vitro photothermal anticancer efficacy. The tumor distribution of BPL/rGO was higher than that of PL/rGO and plain rGO in mice bearing CXCR4-overexpressing tumors, whereas the distribution of the various rGO forms was similar in mice harboring CXCR4-negative tumors. Moreover, complete photothermal tumor ablation was observed in BPL/rGO- treated mice bearing CXCR4-positive KB cell tumors, but not in CXCR4-negative MCF-7 cell tumors. These results provide evidence that BPL can be used to enhance the delivery of nanomaterials to CXCR4-overexpressing tumors. Chemokine-mimetic BPL can be further applied for nanomaterial-based delivery of photosensitizers, anticancer drugs, or diagnostic tumor imaging agents in CXCR4-overexpressing cancer patients.

Identification of differentially expressed miRNAs associated with chronic kidney disease-mineral bone disorder

The purpose of this study is to characterize a meta-signature of differentially expressed mRNA in chronic kidney disease （CKD） to predict putative microRNA （miRNA） in CKD-mineral bone disorder （CKD- MBD） and confirm the changes in these genes and miRNA expression under uremic conditions by using a cell culture system. PubMed searches using MeSH terms and keywords related to CKD, uremia, and mRNA arrays were conducted. Through a computational analysis, a meta-signature that characterizes the significant intersection of differentially expressed mRNA and expected miRNAs associated with CKD-MBD was determined. Additionally, changes in gene and miRNA expressions under uremic conditions were confirmed with human Saos-2 osteoblast-like cells. A statistically significant mRNA meta-signature of upregulated and downregulated mRNA levels was identified. Furthermore, miRNA expression profiles were inferred, and computational anaIyses were performed with the imputed mieroRNA regulation based on weighted ranked expression and putative microRNA targets （IMRE） method to identify miRNAs associated with CKD occurrence. TLR4 and miR-146b levels were significantly associated with CKD-MBD. TLR4 levels were significantly downregulated, whereas pri- miR-146b and miR-146b were upregulated in the presence of uremic toxins in human Saos-2 osteoblast-like cells. Differentially expressed miRNAs associated with CKD-MBD were identified through a computational analysis, and changes in gene and miRNA expressions were confirmed with an in vitro cell culture system.

Nanomaterials for modulating innate immune cells in cancer immunotherapy

Cancer immunotherapy has been intensively investigated in both preclinical and clinical studies.Whereas chemotherapies use cytotoxic drugs to kill tumor cells,cancer immunotherapy is based on the ability of the immune system to fight cancer.Tumors are intimately associated with the immune system:they can suppress the immune response and/or control immune cells to support tumor growth.Immunotherapy has yielded promising results in clinical practice,but some patients show limited responses.This may reflect the complexities of the relationship between a tumor and the immune system.In an effort to improve the current immunotherapies,researchers have exploited nanomaterials in creating new strategies to cure tumors via modulation of the immune system in tumor tissues.Although extensive studies have examined the use of immune checkpoint-based immunotherapy,rather less work has focused on manipulating the innate immune cells.This review examines the recent approaches and challenges in the use of nanomaterials to modulate innate immune cells.

Glucose-mediated mitochondrial reprogramming by cholesterol export at TM4SF5-enriched mitochondria-lysosome contact sites

Background:Transmembrane 4 L six family member 5(TM4SF5)translocates subcellularly and functions metabolically,although it is unclear how intracellu-lar TM4SF5 translocation is linked to metabolic contexts.It is thus of interests to understand how the traffic dynamics of TM4SF5 to subcellular endosomal membranes are correlated to regulatory roles of metabolisms.Methods:Here,we explored the metabolic significance of TM4SF5 localization at mitochondria-lysosome contact sites(MLCSs),using in vitro cells and in vivo animal systems,via approaches by immunofluorescence,proximity labelling based proteomics analysis,organelle reconstitution etc.Results:Upon extracellular glucose repletion following depletion,TM4SF5 became enriched at MLCSs via an interaction between mitochondrial FK506-binding protein 8(FKBP8)and lysosomal TM4SF5.Proximity labeling showed molecular clustering of phospho-dynamic-related protein I(DRP1)and certain mitophagy receptors at TM4SF5-enriched MLCSs,leading to mitochondrial fis-sion and autophagy.TM4SF5 bound NPC intracellular cholesterol transporter 1(NPC1)and free cholesterol,and mediated export of lysosomal cholesterol to mitochondria,leading to impaired oxidative phosphorylation but intact tri-carboxylic acid(TCA)cycle andβ-oxidation.In mouse models,hepatocyte Tm4sf5 promoted mitophagy and cholesterol transport to mitochondria,both with positive relations to liver malignancy.Conclusions:Our findings suggested that TM4SF5-enriched MLCSs regu-late glucose catabolism by facilitating cholesterol export for mitochondrial reprogramming,presumably while hepatocellular carcinogenesis,recapitulating aspects for hepatocellular carcinoma metabolism with mitochondrial repro-gramming to support biomolecule synthesis in addition to glycolytic energetics.

α1-COP modulates plasmodesmata function through sphingolipid enzyme regulation

Callose,aβ-1,3-glucan plant cell wall polymer,regulates symplasmic channel size at plasmodesmata(PD)and plays a crucial role in a variety of plant processes.However,elucidating the molecular mechanism of PD callose homeostasis is limited.We screened and identified an Arabidopsis mutant plant with excessive callose deposition at PD and found that the mutated gene wasα1-COP,a member of the coat protein I(COPI)coatomer complex.We report that loss of function ofα1-COP elevates the callose accumulation at PD by affecting subcellular protein localization of callose degradation enzyme Pd BG2.This process is linked to the functions of ERH1,an inositol phosphoryl ceramide synthase,and glucosylceramide synthase through physical interactions with theα1-COP protein.Additionally,the loss of function ofα1-COP alters the subcellular localization of ERH1 and GCS proteins,resulting in a reduction of Glc Cers and Glc HCers molecules,which are key sphingolipid(SL)species for lipid raft formation.Our findings suggest thatα1-COP protein,together with SL modifiers controlling lipid raft compositions,regulates the subcellular localization of GPI-anchored PDBG2 proteins,and hence the callose turnover at PD and symplasmic movement of biomolecules.Our findings provide the first key clue to link the COPI-mediated intracellular trafficking pathway to the callose-mediated intercellular signaling pathway through PD.

DNA-based artificial dendritic cells for in situ cytotoxic T cell stimulation and immunotherapy

In immunotherapy,ex vivo stimulation of T cells requires significant resources and effort.Here,we report artificial dendritic cell-mimicking DNA microflowers(DM)for programming T cell stimulation in situ.To mimic dendritic cells,DNA-based artificial dendritic microflowers were constructed,surface-coated with polydopamine,and further modified with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 antibodies to yield antibody-modified DM(DM-A).The porous structure of DM-A allowed entrapment of the T cell-stimulating cytokine,ineterleukin-2,yielding interleukin-2-loaded DM-A(DM-AI).For comparison,polystyrene microparticles coated with polydopamine and modified with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 antibodies(PS-A)were used.Compared to PS-A,DM-AI showed significantly greater contact with T cell surfaces.DM-AI provided the highest ex vivo expansion of cytotoxic T cells.Local injection of DM-AI to tumor tissues induced the recruitment of T cells and expansion of cytotoxic T cells in tumor microenvironments.Unlike the other groups,model animals injected with DM-AI did not exhibit growth of primary tumors.Treatment of mice with DM-AI also protected against growth of a rechallenged distant tumor,and thus prevented tumor recurrence in this model.DM-AI has great potential for programmed stimulation of CD8+T cells.This concept could be broadly extended for the programming of specific T cell stimulation profiles.